WORK has been suspended near a wind farm in Shetland after there was a landslide of peat.
The landslide happened at a hillside in Upper Kergord, near the Viking Wind Farm site, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN) has confirmed there were no injuries and that the site near the peat slide has been closed while safety checks have been made.
Construction has been taking place in the area as engineers are connecting the Gremista Grid Supply Point (GSP) and the Kergord Substation.
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A spokesperson for SSEN Transmission said: “On Tuesday afternoon our site team reported a peat slip in an area of hillside between Upper Kergord and the B9075, where work on our Kergord to Gremista Connection Project is taking place.
“All site teams are safe and there were no injuries, however as a safety precaution all site work has been stood down and the area secured until it has been fully assessed and made safe.
“A full assessment of the area will take place to understand the extent of any damage to the hillside.”
As reported by Shetland News Councillor Moraig Lyall, chair of the SIC’s environment and transport committee, has said members of the local community are worried about the safety of the public and the people working on the island.
She said: “It’s not proving to be a good week for SSEN Transmission with this landslip coming on the back of the heath fire at Girlsta Loch a few days ago.
“Members of the local community are rightly concerned and, for the safety of the workforce as well as the general public, we need to understand why this occurred, particularly when it didn’t happen after heavy rain which is often the trigger for peat slides.
“SSEN need to ensure that all the contractors they have operating here are aware of the unique nature of the environment in which they are working and are suitably prepared for that.
“Part of the planning conditions of these permitted developments is that the landscape will be reinstated to its pre-construction state, and we need to ensure that SSEN adhere to that requirement.”
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